Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese

1 can (10 oz) chunk white chicken, drained ( I used 1 pint of bottled chicken)

1/2 C buffalo sauce

1/2 C ranch dressing

2 Cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese

Tortilla Chips

Spread cream cheese into an ungreased shallow 1-qt. baking dish. Layer with chicken, buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake uncovered, at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

Meatballs with Peppers and Pineapple

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/12/meatballs-with-peppers-and-pineapple/

Meatball Ingredients:
1 1/4 pound ground beef
1/2 onion, diced very finely
1 egg
1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs (or regular breadcrumbs)
1 tsp Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper, or more to taste
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Canola oil, for frying

Sauce Ingredients:
2 green bell peppers, seeded and diced roughly
1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
2 cups beef stock or broth
2 Tbs soy sauce
1/2 cup sherry or white wine vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbs cornstarch
Salt to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste
Extra beef stock, if needed

Preparation Instructions:

Combine ground beef, diced onion, egg, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, and crushed red pepper. Mix with hands until combined. Roll meat mixture into small balls and place on a cookie sheet. Freeze on the pan for 15 minutes to firm.
Mix together beef stock, soy sauce, sherry (or vinegar), sugar, and cornstarch.
Heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Roll meatballs in flour, then fry in two batches until nice and brown, about two minutes per batch. Remove meatballs and set aside on a separate plate.
Pour off oil from pan and return pan to medium high heat. When pan is hot, throw in the chopped green peppers and cook for one minute. Add pineapple to pan and cook for one minute, stirring gently. Pour in stock/soy sauce mixture, then add meatballs. Stir gently to combine and allow to cook and bubble for a few minutes, or until sauce is thickened. Add salt and crushed red peppers to taste. (Hint: this dish is yummy if it’s a little spicy.)
Serve over cooked brown or white rice.
*We used apple cider vinegar
*We took out meatballs and sauce for Miriam before adding crushed red pepper. We like spicy food.

Double Chocolate Muffins

printed from melskitchencafe.com

*Note: This recipe makes more than 24 muffins. Because I only have two regular-sized muffins pans and was impatient, I made the rest of the batter into 16 mini muffins. You could easily make all regular-sized muffins if you want. Also, I had some all-natural plum juice in the refrigerator and subbed that in for the water. The taste was unnoticeable but was a little boost in fruit and fiber. I think the water would work just as well, but if you have plum juice just sitting around, throw it in!

*Makes 24 regular sized muffins and 16 mini-muffins

Maria's note: I made about 29 regular sized muffins. We all really liked these muffins--not too sweet--definitely more on the dark chocolate side of chocolate.

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cups sugar
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup light or regular sour cream
1/2 cup water or plum juice
1/2 cup lowfat milk
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, chocolate chips and salt. Toss to combine. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, water (or juice), milk, oil and vanilla. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the wet mixture, stirring just until moistened (a few dry streaks and lumps are fine).

Line muffins cups with paper liners and fill the cups 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake for 16-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove the muffins to a wire rack to let cool completely.